Visahjelp

Talent passport — Researcher (Chercheur, convention d'accueil)

This Talent Passport category is for researchers and university-level teachers coming to France under a hosting agreement signed with a French public or accredited private research or teaching institution. You need a master's-level diploma and a gross monthly salary of at least €2,200. The hosting institution leads the process of signing the convention, which specifies your researcher status, the purpose of the stay, and its duration. The visa converts to a multi-year residence card matching the convention's duration. Typical Vietnamese applicants are PhD candidates on research visits, postdocs, and visiting scientists hosted by institutions such as CNRS, INSERM, INRIA, or a French university. A separate mobility variant exists for researchers already based in another EU country who come to France for more than three months without needing a long-stay visa.

From the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“Decisions by the Embassy of France in Hanoi or Consulate-General in HCMC. **No work permit required** (defining Talent advantage). Post-arrival: VLS-TS Talent validation on ANEF within 3 months. The visa converts to a carte de séjour pluriannuelle « talent-chercheur » at the préfecture (validity tracks the convention duration). Préfecture fee per F16922: €350 (€50 timbre + €300 taxe). Carte talent-famille (F35792) for accompanying family with equivalent validity. EES does NOT apply.”
— French Ministry of Foreign Affairs · French consulates

What you need

  • Per F16922 (3 cumulative conditions for parcours chercheur — activité salariée): (1) **Master's-level diploma** (DEA, DESS, diplôme d'ingénieur, doctorat); (2) **Coming to France for research OR university-level teaching**; (3) **Convention d'accueil** signed with a French public or private accredited research/teaching organisation, specifying researcher status + purpose + duration of stay. **Minimum gross salary €2,200/month** for those who signed a convention de séjour de recherche. EU-mobility variant: for researchers already holding an EU researcher card and coming to France for >3 months of research, the convention must specify membership in a mobility programme and the carte is delivered as « talent-chercheur — programme de mobilité » (no long-stay visa required for short EU mobility). Common documentation: Cerfa 15614-02 + signed convention d'accueil (Cerfa 16079-03) + master's diploma + CV + accommodation + insurance.

Checklist

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  • Long-stay visa application form — Cerfa 15614-02 (passeport talent), online + signed *
  • Two recent identical biometric photos (35mm × 45mm, ICAO standard) *
  • Original passport (validity covering the Talent card period + 3 months; 2+ blank pages) *
  • Passport copies — bio-data page + all pages with visas, stamps, or residence permits *
  • Vietnamese documents — notarised + sworn translation into French or English *
  • Convention d'accueil signed with French accredited research/teaching institution (Cerfa 16079-03) *
  • Master's-level diploma (DEA, DESS, ingénieur, doctorat, etc.) *
  • Remuneration evidence — minimum EUR 2,200/month gross for convention de séjour de recherche signatories *
  • Accommodation evidence — lease, hotel/Airbnb (first weeks), employer-arranged housing, or attestation *
  • Health insurance covering arrival until enrolment in Sécurité sociale *
  • Birth certificate (with notarised translation) *
  • Marriage certificate (if accompanied by spouse — see also carte talent-famille F35792)
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Fees

  • Visa fee — EUR 99 (standard long-stay) *
  • Préfecture card-issuance fee — EUR 350 (EUR 50 timbre + EUR 300 taxe) at carte delivery via timbres fiscaux *
  • TLS Contact service fee — EUR 25 per applicant *
  • TLS Contact appointment confirmation *

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